Time controlled irrigation gate



June 8, 1954 M. JARAMILLO 2,680,351

TIME CONTROLLED IRRIGATION GATE Filed Jan. 14, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet lMelaquias Jaramillo I N V EN TOR.

June 8, 1954 M. JARAMILLO TIME} CONTROLLED IRRIGATION GATE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 14, I952 w 0 WI 0 MW ab 0 am w 0 2 4 1 m 0 2 Qt 8 6 m m 8 M o 8 6 2 O M a 4 M M I. v M 6 H n I n 0 0 DMD m I 4 g o 6 lI M I u k m 2 O Q Q P m o m m P o I I I fi 0 2 Fig.4

o I v. M R m M K a E M m m W Yivu \L IYI1F J N I I f. s I F M a 1? q M ew M Patented June 8, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIME CONTROLLEDIRRIGATION GATE Melaquias .laramillo, Wendell, Idaho Application January14, 1952, Serial No. 266,311

6 Claims.

This invention relates generally toan irrigation gate, and morespecifically to a time controlled irrigation gate for use at a fork inan irrigation channel.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a gate for anirrigation channel which may be disposed at a fork therein forcontrolling the flow of water to the branches thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved irrigationgate having openings for the flow of water therethrough, and gateelements for closing said openings.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved gate for anirrigation channel which is provided with means along its edges andbottom for sealing same with respect to an irrigation channel.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved irrigationgate for use at a fork in an irrigation channel, said gate beingprovided with two sections at an angle to each other, and an opening ineach of said sections for the flow of water therethrough.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved irrigationgate having two sections hingedly secured to each other for closing twoforks of an irrigation channel, each of said sections having waterpassageways therethrough, gate elements for closing said passageways,and said gate elements being connected to each other whereby when one ofsaid gate elements is opened the other of said gate elements is closed,and time controlled means for operating said gate elements.

With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of elementsand portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in thespecification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a material part ofthis application, and in which:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of the irrigation gate, which formsthe subject of this invention, said gate being illustrated as beingapplied to a fork in an irrigation channel, parts being broken away andshown in section in order to more clearly illustrate the hingeconnection between the gate sections;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the irrigation gate of Figure 1 andshowing the manner in which the flow of water through an irrigationchannel is controlled by the gate;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the irrigation gate of Figure 1and showing the arrangement of the openings in the gate sections, andthe means for opening and closing the same, the canvas sealing stripsbeing omitted;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of one of thegate sections and taken substantially upon the plane indicated by theline 3- of Figure 2 and showing the means for latching one of the gateelements in its open position and means for releasing said latch means;and

Figure 5 is an enlarged partial transverse vertical sectional viewthrough one of the gate sections taken substantially upon the planeindicated by the section line 5-5 of Figure 2 and showing theconstruction of the means for releasably latching one of the gateelements in an open position.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical elementsand portions throughout the specification and throughout the differentviews of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, this invention includes anirrigation gate having identical first and second gate sections l0 andI2, said gate sections being hingedly secured together'along opposedside edges by a plurality of hinges it.

Each of the gate sections is formed of a sheet 46 having a rectangularopening it in its lower central portion. Secured to the outer side edgeof the sheet 55 is a combination frame and support member 20 of anglecross section. The member 20 extends above and below the sheet I6 andhas a pointed lower end 22. The angle member 20 is secured to the sheetl6 by a plurality of rivets 2 1 which also clamp an elongated strip ofcanvas 26 between the angle member 23 and the plate 16. Hingedly securedto one of the flanges of the angle member 28 by a pivot pin 28 is anangle brace member 30.

Also secured to the rear of the plate It, but at the bottom edge thereofis a reinforcing plate element 32. Disposed between the plate element 32and the sheet I6 is a bottom elongated strip of canvas 3 1. The plate 32and the canvas strip 34 is secured to the sheet is by a plurality ofrivets 3B.

Extending vertically along the rear edge of the sheet !S of the gatesection i2 is an angle frame member 33 secured to the sheet 16 by aplurality of rivets 4e. Extending vertically along the inner edge of thesheet it of the gate section It is a combined frame member and support42 of angle cross section. The member 42 has an elongated upper end 44and a pointed lower end 46. The

angle member 42 is secured to the rear edge of the sheet l6 by aplurality of rivets 48 passing through one of its flanges and the sheet[6. Extending between and beyond the frame members 38 and 42 is a sheetof canvas 55} whose intermediate portion is clamped to the sheet it; bythe frame members 38 and 42. The side edges of the canvas 50 are clampedto the sheet 16 by a plurality of rivets 52. The lower edge of thecanvas 50 is clamped to the sheet l6 by the lower plate 32, and theupper edge of the canvas is clamped against the rear of the sheet I 6 bya transversely extending top angle frame member it which is secured tothe upper edge of each of the sheets it by a plurality of rivets 56.Extending transversely of the sheet 16 and intermediate its height is anangle brace member 58 having a portion overlying the canvas 59 andsecured to the sheet l by a plurality of rivets 60. The edge of one ofthe flanges of the angle member 58 being in alignment with the upperedge of the opening is.

Looking at the front of the irrigation gate as illustrated in Figure 3,it will be seen that the opening it in the sheet It has an angle member62 on its bottom side and elongated angles at on its vertical sides. Theangle members 5e extend upwardly beyond the top of the opening l8 andform guideways for a gate element 5% which is slidably mountedtherebetween.

Referring now to Figure 2 in detail, it will be seen that the anglemembers 62 and 64 are welded to the sheet 1% along the edge of oneflange, with said flange being vertical to said sheet. The gate element66 is in the form of a flat plate and has angle members 53 secured tothe side edges thereof. One flange of each angle member 68 underlies aflange of an angle member 64 while the other flange thereof engages theedge of said overlying flange so that the gate element St is receivedbetween the sheet in; and the angle element 64 in guided relationthereto.

The bottom edge of the gate element 68 is provided with a flap stripportion 19 which engages the bottom angle member 62 in sealing relationwhen the gate element 85 is in its closed position. Secured to the upperedge of the gate element 83 is an angle member 2 to which a latchinghook element :4 is secured by a plurality of rivets 16. Also secured tothe gate element 65 adjacent its upper edge is a hook bolt 33, Furthersecured to the gate element 68 adjacent its upper edge is a liftinghandle 85.

Extending upwardly from the transverse brace 58 at the center of thegate section and secured to the rear of the sheet iii is an anglesupport member 8'2. The angle support member 82 extends upwardly beyondthe top of the sheet and has pivotally secured thereto a pulley 8%. Apulley 85 is also pivotally secured to the upper end of the support ts.A flexible member 33 is secured to the hooks it on the gate element 66of the gate sections 58 and i2 and pass over the pulleys 8 3 and 83. Thelength of the flexible member 88 is such that when oneof the gateelements 66 is closed the other gate element is in its open position.

Referring now to Figure l in particular, it will be seen that eithergate element 656 may be locked in an open position by engaging a leverarm Q8 under the shoulder Q2 of the hook portion 5%. The lever arm it ispivotally connected interme diate its ends to a pair of parallel linkmembers 84 by a pivot pin $6. The link members as are disposed onadjacent sides of a block 98 carried by the top frame member 54. Thelink members 94 are secured to the block Q8 by a pivot pin Hill. The endof the lever arm 98 oppositely in engagement with the hook portion It isprovided with an upturned flange H32. Secured to the upper frame member5 3 is a support plate H14. Detachably mounted on the support plate I04is a conventional alarm clock H35 which is secured to the supportingplate me by conventional fasteners I88. The alarm clock I88 is locatedwith respect to the lever arm 96 in such a manner that the alarm windingkey H0 engages the flange portion 562 so that when the alarm of theclock We is set off, that the alarm key H0 moves the flange 92 to theright as viewed in Figure 4. Movement of the flange I82 to the rightalso moves the main portion 96 of the lever arm to the right and therebyreleasing the hook portion '24 whereby its associated gate element E56is no longer restrained against moving to a closing position.

It will be noted that oniy one of the gate sections are provided with analarm clock, although each of the gate sections are provided withlatching means and a support plate for mounting the alarm clock thereon.Since the alarm merely unlatches the gate element, it is obvious thatsome means must be provided for moving the gate element into a closedposition. Also, since the irrigation gate, which is the subject of thisinvention, is designed to be disposed at a fork of an irrigationchannel, one of the openings 18 must remain open d at all times in orderto prevent the water in the irrigation channels to be backed up andtherefore overflow their banks. As illustrated in the drawings, thealarm clock His is mounted on the gate section 82, and the gate element66 is in its open position.

It is the purpose of this invention that the Water be allowed to flowdown the irrigation channel associated with the irrigation gate section5 2 for a definite length of time, said time being set on the alarmclock Hi5. At the end of the predetermined time, the alarm of the alarmclock iilEi is set off and the alarm winding key HE moves the lever 98to the right and releases the gate element 66 of the gate section l2.Extending between the upper edge of the gate element 69 and the lowerends of the side guide element 64 is a pair of tension springs I i2. Itwill be readily seen that when the gate element of the gate section 12is released, the gate element is moved to a position closing theassociated opening 18 by the tension springs H2. The downward movementof the gate element of the gate section it results in the upwardmovement of the gate element of the gate section Ill due to theconnection between the two gate elements by the flexible member 38. Ifit is desired that the opening id in the gate section iii remain openfor a predetermined period of time, and then closed and the opening 18in the gate I2 be opened, the tension springs i i2 and the alarm N36 isconnected to the gate element of the gate section it.

Referring now to Figure 2 in particular, it will be seen that theirrigation gate, which is the subject of this invention, is mounted at afork in the main irrigation channel with the pointed ends of the supportmembers 20 and d s firmly embedded in the banks defining the irrigationchannel, and the irrigation gate placed against overturning by the basesas, when the irrigation is mounted across the irrigation channel, thesealing canvas strips 26 engage the sides of the channel banks and thebottom canvas sealing strips 3s engage the bed of the irrigation channelto render the irrigation gate watertight. The canvas strip 50 alsoprevents passage of water between the gate sections [0 and i2 throughthe hinge joint.

It will be noted that the gate sections 59 and 12, by being hingedlysecured together, are adapted to be disposed at any angle to each otherso as to be usable at forks in an irrigation channel where the anglebetween the forks varies.

Furthermore, the hinge connection between the gate sections it and I2permit the irrigation gate to be folded to a size no bigger than asingle gate section.

The operation of this gate will be understood from a description of themechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the above re citedobjects and the drawings. Further description would appear to beunnecessary.

Minor modifications of the gate, bearing in mind the details from theembodiment of the gate illustrated and described here, may be resortedto without departure from the spirit and the scope of this invention, asdefined in the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An irrigation gate for use at a fork in an irrigation ditchcomprising first and second rigid gate sections, said gate sectionsbeing hingedly secured together, means carried by gate secticns forrigidly mounting said gate sections with respect to an irrigation ditch,said gate sections having flexible means along their sides and bo+- tomsfor sealing said gate sections with respect to irrigation ditches and toeach other, said means for sealing said gates being in the form ofcanvas strips secured to said gate sections into water-tight relationthereto.

2. An irrigation gate for use at a fork in an irrigation ditchcomprising first and second rigid gate sections, said gate sectionsbeing hingedly secured together, means carried by said gate sections forrigidly mounting said gate sections with respect to an irrigation ditch,openings in said gate sections, gate elements for closing said openings,said gate sections having flexible means along their sides and bottomsfor sealing said gate sections with respect to irrigation ditches, andother flexible means covering said hinge to seal said gate sectionsrelative to each other.

3. An irrigation gate for use at a fork in an irrigation ditchcomprising first and second gate sections, said gate sections beinghingedly secured together, means for rigidly mounting said gate sectionswith respect to an irrigation ditch, openings in said gate sections,gate elements for c1osing said openings, operating means interconnectingthe gate elements of said gate sections whereby movement of one gateelement in one direction results in the movement of the other of thegate elements in an opposite direction so that flow through saidirrigation ditch may remain constant.

4. An irrigation gate for use at a fork in an irrigation ditchcomprising first and second gate sections, said gate sections beinghingedly secured together, means for rigidly mounting said gate sectionswith respect to an irrigation ditch, discharge openings in said gatesections, guideways adjacent said openings, gate elements slidablymounted in said guideways for closing said discharge openings, operatingmeans interconnecting the gate elements of said sections whereby themovement of one gate element in one direction results in the movement ofthe other gate element in an opposite direction and only one gate may becompletely open at a time, means locking the gate element of said firstgate section in an open position, means urging said gate element of thefirst gate section to a closed position.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said first gate section isprovided with means for releasing said locking means.

6. an. irrigation gate for 'use at a fork in an itch comprising firstand second gate ns, gate sections being hingedly secured her, means forrigidly mounting said gate us with respect to an irrigation ditch,dispenings in said gate sections, guideways adicent openings, gateelements slidably in said guideways for closing said discharge openings,operative means interconnecting the gate elements of said sectionswhereby the overnent of one gate element in one direction results in themovement of the gate elements in an opposite direction and only one gatecompletely open at a time, latch means normally retaining the gateelement or" said first gate section in an open position, spring meansurging the gate element of said first gate section to a closed position,said spring means being of sufficient strength to effect raising of thegate element of the second gate section to an open position, timecontrolled actuation means connected to said latch means for moving saidlatch means to an ineffective position.

References Gifted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date Re. 13,622 Linkletter Sept. 30, 1913 1,080,944 BakerDec. 9, 1913 1,237,107 Shaffer Aug. 14, 1917 1,404,325 Schaefer Jan. 24,1922

